A 71-year-old woman and three young children aged three, eight and ten respectively were murdered in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga on Thursday. A fifth victim survived the incident and is currently being treated in hospital.
The victims, family members believe, all suffered gunshot wounds.
A 32-year-old suspect, presumably the grandson of the elderly victim, has since been arrested.
No names have been released.
“The victims’ lifeless bodies were found by a male family member after he apparently knocked on the door and there was no answer. The man apparently gained forced entry into the house and came across the horrific scene,” said Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety in Mpumalanga.
“The police have arrested a 32-year-old suspect who is expected to appear in the magistrate’s court on Piet Retief on Monday.”
Vusi Shongwe, MEC for community safety in this province, condemned the “senseless” and “brutal” incident.
“We cannot afford to keep losing lives in this way. What is even worse is that defenseless children are killed by those who are supposed to care for them.”
